Sharing my Key West Legacy!

These pictures were taken at our Catholic Church, St. Mary's Star of the Sea, which has recently had the honor of becoming a Basilica. And on the grounds of St. Mary's is a very special Grotto.

This is a very widespread belief in Key West that this Grotto at St. Mary's provides us protection from a direct hit from Hurricanes.

Sister Louis Gabriel was the nun responsible for having the Grotto built, with help and donations from the community

The story behind it is that Sister Louis Gabriel had survived 3 major storms since she had come to Key West in 1897 wanted to protect the island and its people from the devastation and suffering she had witnessed from these horrible storms. She believed that as long as the Grotto stood, “Key West would never experience the full brunt of a hurricane.”

The Grotto was built in 1922. There were many people coming and going when I took these pictures this afternoon, we smiled and nodded to each other, not speaking. Just sharing the beauty and serenity and a appreciation of the Grotto.